Preface

Adhesives and sealants are truly remarkable materials, and I find the
technology supporting these materials to be equally extraordinary and
at times a bit overpowering for infrequent users of these products. I
know of no other technology spread so expansively throughout our
lives. It is difficult to imagine a product—in the home, in industry, in
transportation, or anywhere else for that matter—that does not use
adhesives or sealants in some manner.
Yet, many of us who work with adhesives and sealants, probably
‘‘back into’’ being ‘‘experts’’ almost by default. We had no early inten-
tions of a close relationship with this technology. We went to school
and trained, perhaps, to be materials specialists, engineers, designers,
or manufacturers. One day our supervisor or the nature of our work
demands that we discover how to assemble a product. How do we join
together parts to form a functional product that will endure all pos-
sible service environments, is harmonious with the company’s produc-
tion processes and schedules, and has some aesthetic and environ-
mental quality? How long will the joint survive in service? What is
the repeatability of the process? How do we control the process and
check for inferior or improper joints? If the joint is of poor quality, how
do we get the parts apart or must they be scrapped? Will the bonding
or sealing process affect the environment or the safety of the assembly
workers?
In answering these questions, we may have taken a broad, initial
approach and considered all forms of assembly including mechanical
fasteners, welding, and adhesives. After studying the pros and cons of
each process, we possibly choose an adhesive or sealant. Either by
good guidance from suppliers, mentors, or just by chance, our first
assembled product looks competent. It provides a decent service life,
and maybe even results in a profitable product. We are now frequently
consulted because we have seemingly mastered a foreboding technol-

xix
xx Preface

ogy that to everyone else has a somewhat sinister demeanor and mag-
ical aura about it. Then, we are truly overwhelmed when it becomes
obvious that to fully understand and gain expert stature with adhe-
sives and sealants, we must master many fundamental principles.
These fundamentals are derived from diverse and alien sciences such
as polymeric materials, surface chemistry, and fracture mechanics. To
be successful, we know that one must master and integrate these sci-
ences.
The above situation is, of course, magnified a bit, but I am sure that
it reaches home to many who pick up this Handbook and desire an
efficient method of understanding adhesives and sealants and apply-
ing them reliably. As a periodic end-user, you possibly do not have the
time or the resources to thoroughly study the various technologies
related to adhesives and sealants. You have little desire to wade
through volumes of text and product information looking for the spe-
cific methods, processes, and possible examples that will apply to the
joining application du jour. However, you do want such information
close-by if the need arises. Above all, you hope to learn from the ex-
periences of others. Ideally for your needs, a single reference source
can provide the guidance and fundamental knowledge required for
many adhesive bonding or sealing applications. I hope that I am cor-
rect in these assumptions, because this is why I have written this
Handbook.
There are a number of important handbooks, journals, and papers,
on adhesives and sealants already in the literature. Many of these are
important works, and they serve as a foundation for this Handbook.
To the authors of these remarkable vehicles, I am exceedingly grateful.
Much of their work is referred to here. This Handbook may not go into
the technical depth that is evident in these previous works. However,
it will provide sufficient detail and a broad foundation to enable the
practitioner to reliably design, select, and use adhesives or sealants.
This Handbook will be a single, comprehensive source of recent in-
formation, historical experience, and guidance for any adhesive or
sealant application. The Handbook will define the universe of adhe-
sives and sealants from the perspective of the end-user, and in that
way will provide a practical and useful source of information.
My perspective is as an end-user as well. I have consulted on ad-
hesives and sealants for over 33 years in diverse commercial industrial
applications, first in Westinghouse Electric Corporation and then in
Asea Brown Boveri (ABB) and other companies. Thus, I have seen
many successful applications of adhesive or sealant systems and many
disasters and near disasters. As an industrial consultant, one gener-
ally becomes involved with a case because there is a problem that
cannot be solved with the resources at hand. Thus, horror stories as
 Preface xxi

well as successful applications will litter my presentation. I hope that

the readers will find these experiences educational and illuminating.
The Handbook of Adhesives and Sealants is a guide to the entire
field of adhesives and sealants. Although primarily directed toward
the end-user and containing important application and design data,
the Handbook also provides significant information for those inter-
ested in developing, manufacturing, marketing, purchasing, or just
generally becoming familiar with these important materials.
The initial chapter covers the importance of adhesives and sealants
and the multi-disciplined nature of the technology. Also introduced in
the first chapter are markets and applications, the functions of ad-
hesives and sealants, and common materials and processes. Major
sources of information regarding adhesives and sealants are identified
for readers interested in gaining a deeper understanding or maintain-
ing currency with this dynamic technology.
Subsequent chapters then cover important elements necessary to
determine where adhesives and sealants should and should not be
used and, when indicated, how to successfully use them. Chapters
cover adhesion theories, joint design rules, test methods, substrate
preparation methods, adhesive and sealant materials, application and
processing methods, and the effects of the service environment. The
final chapter describes how information technology is changing the
selection and knowledge gathering process.
Throughout the Handbook, specific applications and examples illus-
trate the concepts being discussed. Due to the broad nature of this
technology, the reader will often be directed from one section to other
relevant sections within the book. References at the end of each chap-
ter direct the interested reader to more in-depth information and un-
derstanding regarding specific subjects.
I wish to express a sincere ‘‘thank you’’ to all those who made my
goal of putting this Handbook together a reality. Special thanks goes
to Charlie Harper for his motivation and support and to Ron Sampson
for his mentoring and wisdom in my early days as a young research
engineer.

Edward M. Petrie